LAW Professors

Barbara Vander Putten, a Bay Area native, began her vocal music career in 1977 joining the West Valley Masterworks, with whom she sang diverse repertoire including Mozart & Verdi's Requiem (with a performance at Carnegie Hall), Bach B minor Mass, Rutter's Gloria, etc, as well as a variety of folk music, madrigals, show tunes and spirituals. She was the Assistant Director of the award-winning Mission Valley Chorus (Sweet Adelines Intl) for 12 yrs, serving as Interim Director in 2005. Barbara was named Director of the Harmony Fusion Chorus in March of 2006, proudly leading them to a fourth place medal in their regional contest a year later. In spring of 2011, Harmony Fusion snapped up another fourth place medal with their highest score to date.

Barbara is a Certified Director, a member of the SAI Region 12 coaching faculty, participated on the judging panel for the West Coast Regional Harmony Sweeps Semi-Finals in 2006 and is perhaps best known as The Duchess in the off-the-wall comedy quartet, The Aquanettas (1999-2006). She’s currently sings Bass in her quartet, With a Twist. In addition to singing, Barbara uses her speaking voice as the enthusiastic host of The Human Voice Show, featuring a cappella harmony, on People’s Radio KKUP - Cupertino 91.5fm.

Cyndi Sharp is a Certified Director, and member of Region 12's Teaching and Coaching Faculty. She is the Young Women in Harmony Program Manager, Sophomore level instructor for L.A.W., chorus and quartet coach, as well as private voice instructor.

She has been a Sweet Adeline since 1986 and has served on the Regional Education Committee and been the coordinator for the Director Certification Program. Cyndi directed Diablo Vista Chorus for ten years,1999 – 2009, and has sung in several competing quartets. Her fondest Sweet Adeline project has been creating Region 12's Mountain Harmony Camp for girls.

Cyndi's musical education includes master classes in vocal production, choral theory, and theater arts. She has held many roles in theater, including light opera in the Mikado, and comedy in Ragtime. She loves her day job as an Interpreter for the Deaf for Mt. Diablo Unified School District, and spends after school hours directing Westwood Elementary's Show Choir and Musical Theater Group, offering theater arts to upper elementary students and producing two shows for the school community each year. She cherishes family time with her husband, two adult married children, and Schnauzer, Maggie.

She is passionate about providing the best education for our members and is especially proud to participate in our exceptional LAW program saying, "It's magical to experience the empowerment of both singers and future directors in just one day of education in this gentle setting!"

In 2006, Mission Valley Chorus welcomed Angela Suraci as the new Mission Valley Chorus director. Angela joined Bay Area Showcase Chorus in 1998. She has served as an Assistant Director and Lead Section Leader since 1999. Her barbershop history started years before as her mother, Carol, had been an active member since 1965. Angela has always been active in music singing in high school, college and professional choirs as well as pursuing a career in opera. Angela received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy and a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University. She is also a private voice instructor and coaches quartets and choruses in the area. Angela has achieved the level of Master Director. Angela was born in Castro Valley, CA, where her parents still reside.

Julie Starr has been directing the Bay Area Showcase Chorus since 2002, after 11 years as an assistant director and five years as director of the Diablo Vista Chorus in Walnut Creek. Bay Area Showcase Chorus is a consistent Regional champion and International competitor, with numerous top ten medals and a thriving membership from the San Francisco Bay area and beyond.

Julie is a Master Director and currently also serves as the Region 12 Education Coordinator. She believes strongly in the importance of educating, developing, and nurturing musical leaders, and has been a part of the L.A.W. program since its inception.

Recently retired from a career as a technical writer and project manager, Julie is an active coach and voice teacher, sings bass in The EclectiCats quartet, and arranges music for barbershop when she gets the time. Julie describes her involvement in the L.A.W. program as a highlight of her Sweet Adelines year, and she loves working with the eager, dedicated women who come to learn arm waving.

Kathy has been a member of Sweet Adelines since 1971, holding nearly every position of chorus and regional leadership. She served on three Regional Management Teams as Secretary, Education Coordinator, and Chaired many workshops; led the regional quartet champions group (Gold Country), chairing many quartet educational and performance events, and Region 24 honored her with the coveted Rose Award in 2011 for her many services to Sweet Adelines. Kathy sang lead in a two-time championship quartet (Columbia Connection), directed 2 championship choruses (City of Roses and Northwest Harmony), and is currently the Master Director of Oregon Spirit Chorus.

Kathy is excited to now be a part of Region 12 and is honored to be a LAW School Professor, a Certified Regional Faculty member, also serving on the Regional Education Steering Committee, and Program Chair for Summer Spectacular 2017.

Kathy "accidentally" started Oregon Spirit Chorus in October 2005, when a small group of ladies just wanted to sing for the holidays. The little group stayed together and Oregon Spirit was chartered in 2007 and went on to achieve 1st Place Division AA five times in a row, 2nd Place overall, and Audience Choice two times. Kathy says it was quite a thrill to come to Region 12 and win the 1st Place Division A in 2014, and now OSC is Harmony Classic-bound!

Kathy is the proud single mother of 28-year old Ken, is a Project Coordinator and Support Department Manager and Project Coordinator at Jacobs Engineering (26 years). She comes from a very musical family and formerly played first violin in symphony orchestras, fiddle in a bluegrass band, taught herself how to play piano, guitar, and bass (stand-up), and was a studio musician. But barbershop harmony is her passion and she loves sharing what she has learned through the many outstanding coaching and educational events she has experienced through her 43 years in Sweet Adelines.

Jan has been waving her arms for 30 years, six years as an assistant director and then as the proud director of Pacific Empire Chorus. She led her chorus on the International stage five times! Jan attained Master Director status "because of the dedication to excellent singing of the members of PEC!" She is a Certified Judge in the Expression Category. She has also been the Director Coordinator on the Regional Management Team. Jan has many other credits including serving on International committees, coaching choruses and quartets and spreading the word about LAW. Since the program began, she has been a LAW professor where she says she has "learned much from the students." Jan is looking forward to leading the Graduate level even though she has retired from directing PEC. We just couldn't let her wealth of knowledge leave the LAW program.

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